Shoe construction



Aug.6, 1940. ALEM 2210,332

l y SHOE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 5, 1939 INVENTOR amd/r ATTORNEYS Patented ug. 6,v 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to footwear and more particularly to an improvement in the con struction of shoes.

Theprimary object ,of the inventionl is to pro- -vide a shoe construction having a substantially level foot platform that imitates the natural ground' platform when standing or walking inV liprint of the heel. This is thetrue natural gravitational platform balance for the foot since it also conforms to the anatomical structureV of the foot whenbearing the weight 0f the body.

'.Another object of the invention is to substantially imitate in a shoe Yconstruction the soft natural earth which prevents shocks and `jars that would be transmitted to the heel and the entire supporting structure when walking and to also ,provide a direct contact for the heel with a soft rubber support. H

still further object of the invention islrto provide a cupped platform for the heel, lthe purpose of which isl-,to change the angle between the heel and ankle joint and supporting shafts tibea and iibula shin bones above. This angle change produces a shorter fulcrum at the heel which in turn produces a greater pull on the large tendon achillis attached to the posterior border at the heel bone for a more erect posture and for a level pelvic gravitational platform balance. There is also provided a gravitational foot balance that is assured with this shorter fulcrum as it places a greater holding effort on the plantar fascia ligaments that are attached to the anterior portion of the heel bone, from there to the tarsal and metatarsal bones on the bottom of the foot preserving the arch-like position of the bones. There is also produced a drawing eifect away from the toes instead of press-ure into the toes as in the conventional shoe, the weight being evenly distributed on the ball and heel of the foot thus placing no greater strain on ligaments on either side of the ankle.

The invention will be fully and comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing whic forms a part of the application.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view illus- (Cl. Sti- 8.5)

trating a shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the inner sole 5 forming a part of the shoe construction.

Figure 4 is a top plan view ofthe outer sole forming a part of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a form. of heel employed, and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing for a more detailed description thereof wherein like parts are designated by like reference characters in the several 15 views, the shoe construction indicated generally by the reference numeral Ill comprises an upper portion II, the inner sole I2, outer sole I3 and heel I4 which are conventional parts of a shoe.

Theinner and outer soles I2 and I3, respectively, 20:v

may be formed of leather, rubber or other similar materials without departing from the spirit of the invention. The inner and outer soles may be attached to the upper by any desired means such as cementing, stitching or the like. 25

The heel Mis formed with a cupped or depressed portion I5 and the lowest point of the depressed portion indicated by the numeral `I6 is disposed in a plane substantially level with the surface of the ball of the foot Il whereby the 30 bearing of the heel of the foot will be level with the bearing of the ball of the foot thus providing a level platform that imitates the natural ground platform when standing or walking in free nature barefoot. It will be noted that the depressed 35 portion I5 forms a complete cupping for the heel of the foot, that is side to side and front and back to imitate the natural platform. The complete cupping further gives protection tothe ligaments on the side of the ankle thus resulting in 40 a firmer footing for the wearer.

in the formation of the heel I4, there is provided marginal flanges I9 on two sides and the back thereof for forming a supporting surface whereby the outer sole I3 can be attached di- 45 rectly thereto. Referring more particularly to- Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be noted that a projection I9 is formed about the depressed portion I6 which in conjunction with the marginal flanges I9 serves to securely hold the 50 outer s-ole I3 and heel I4 in unitary relation. The front portion 28 of the heel I4 which is adjacent the arch of the shoe, is suitably tapered to form a properly sloping arch. In other words, the projection I9 is absent from the front part of 55 the heel and is substituted by the gradual tapering thereof as more clearly shown in Figure 1 of the drawing.

The outer sole has the heel portion thereof formed with an opening I8 for attachment with the heel I4 and in assembling the same, the heel is slipped over the outer sole from the front portion 28 and the marginal anges I9 and projection I9' securely unite the sole and heel and at the same time provide a more resilient cushion. The portion 20 ofthe outer sole which contacts the front end 28 of the heel I4 is tapered to conform with the tapered portion of said heel and the general depressed or cupped formation thereof.

The inner sole is likewise formed with a cut out portion 2l which in conjunction with the outer sole and cupped heel produces the required gravitational balance of the foot. The portion of the inner sole indicated at 22 in Figure 3 of. the drawing is tapered and the marginal edges 23 of' the cut out portion 2! are disposed about the depressed portion I of the heel I which construction provides a smooth finished cupping forthe heel yet permitting the heel to come in direct contact with the rubber heel and thereby obtain full benefit of the resiliency thereof.

The tapering of the inner and outer soles I2 and I3, respectively, produces the same arch support in front of the heel as is obtained when standing barefoot on the ground since the inner and outer soles are slightly tapered in front of the heel. As is well known the inner and outer longitudinal arches require this support.

In Figure 6 of the drawing there is shown a modified form of the invention in which the outer sole 24 and cupped heel 25 are molded or otherwise fabricated from rubber or similar material. The inner sole 26 is tapered in the manner described in the preferred form to provide a smooth cupped formation for the shoe.

From the-above description it will be readily apparent that there is provided a shoe embodying a foot platform that imitates the platform of natural ground when standing or walking in free nature barefoot. The arch of the foot is supported by the described surface in front of the cupping made by the heel and the heel is on a level plane with the ball of the foot as nature intended.

It is to be understood that the present invention contemplates the rebuilding of old shoes by replacing the original sole and heel with the improved sole and heel herein illustrated and described. In the building of a new shoe it will be necessary, of course, to provide proper lasts for the same.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that Variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawing nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a shoe construction, a shoe having a heel formed with a central depression in the upper surface thereof, said heel being provided with marginal flanges about said depression, an extending projection formed on three sides of said depression, an outer sole having a cut out portion surrounding said central depression and in engagement with said marginal fianges and adapted to be retained by said extended portions, and an inner sole having a tapered cut out portion adjacent the edges of said central depression, whereby a bearing surface for the heel is disposed substantially level with the bearing surface for the ball of the foot.

2. In a shoe construction, a shoe having a heel formed with a central depression in the upper surface thereof, an outer sole adapted to be attached to said heel, means on said heel surrounding said central depression for receiving said outer sole for attachment, and an inner sole having a tapered cut out portion adjacent the edges of. said central depression, whereby a bearing surface for the heel is disposed substantially level with the bearing surface for the ball of the foot.

AUGUST L. EICH. 

